FLOWN THE NEST: SIMEON JACKSON

Canadian striker on that game against Derby, Carrow Road memories and more

IT MAY be six years on, but Simeon Jackson still vividly remembers arguably his most defining moment in the green and yellow of Norwich City.

A vital home meeting with Derby County in late April was left finely poised at 2-2 with the game heading into injury-time, Jackson himself having netted both of the hosts' goals.

Knowing victory was a near necessity, City threw caution to the wind and got their rewards with barely seconds left; the Canadian in the right place to complete his hat-trick and send Carrow Road into raptures.

Speaking exclusively to canaries.co.uk about that day, Jackson said: "If my career was to end tomorrow it would definitely stand out as one of the biggest moments.

"I remember most of it, I remember knowing we needed to win. The last few minutes of the game and the ball coming off my body, whatever part it was, was just a sense of relief really.

"It was just one of those moments where everything went well. To get the hat-trick and win the game was just amazing."

The treble formed just a small part of a scintillating run in front of goal for Jackson in the campaign's latter stages, culminating in a famous header away to Portsmouth which sealed promotion less than a fortnight later.

"When you're in a vein of form like that you just can't wait for the next game," he explained.

"Everyone in the team felt that at the time. I just knew in every game I was going to get a chance and it became a real purple-patch for me.

"Everything at the time was ideal and when it clicks like that you get those kind of results, and those kind of journeys. There was a belief every week generated by the crowd, home or away.

"I'd say it was the best time of my career really and if I'm lucky enough to have that again then I'll be a very lucky man."

Jackson, now at Walsall in Sky Bet League One, continues to cast an eye over the fortunes of his former Club where he readily admits some of his most successful days were spent.

"I was lucky enough to catch up with Russ Martin the other week when Scotland played Canada," the 30-year-old added.

"Chris Martin was there too so I still keep in touch with some of the lads from that squad. When you play in those kind of teams and have success you do tend to stay in touch because you get a real bond.

"For me personally, it's been going well. I think it's the most goals I've scored in a season for a while which is a real positive and I'm still hungry to reach the heights I touched on earlier in my career.

"Next season I'll be aiming to get as many goals for Walsall as I can and hopefully we can be pushing for promotion with the way we want to play."

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